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The Legacy of Walt Disney at the Walt Disney Family Museum

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The Walt Disney Family Museum brings to life the fascinating and inspiring story of Walt Disney, whose artistry, creativity and vision helped define 20th century American culture. Opened in 2009 in the Presidio of San Francisco, the 40,000-square-foot museum illuminates Disney's tremendous successes, disappointments and unyielding optimism as he pursued innovation and excellence while entertaining and enchanting generations worldwide.

The creator of Mickey Mouse, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Disneyland, and the global yet distinctly American company that bears his name, Disney was a risk-taker who started his first business at the age of 19 and worked tirelessly to elevate animation to an art form. He invented timeless and much-beloved characters and stories that brought the fantastical to life and continue to inspire a sense of wonder. Through animated and live-action films, television programs and theme parks, Disney created global symbols, icons and characters that are an indelible part of popular culture, even more than 50 years after his death.

"My father has one of the most well-known names around the world, but as the Disney 'brand' has grown, the man has become lost", said Disney's daughter, Diane Disney Miller, who co-founded the museum. "We are committed to telling the story of Walt Disney's life, in his own words, and in the words of others who knew him well and worked with him. My father was very open, and in the many conversations and interviews that you will hear in the galleries, you learn the story of his life. It is a wonderful story, and Dad himself loved to tell it. Thanks to the amazing work of many dedicated people, we are fortunate to be able to tell it here using the tools he worked with - art, music, film and technology - to present an honest yet affectionate portrait of this amazing artist and man."

The Walt Disney Family Museum features contemporary, interactive galleries with state-of-the-art exhibits alongside early drawings, cartoons, films, music, a spectacular model of Disneyland and more, in tribute to the legacy of Walt Disney.

Tickets to the museum can be purchased onsite or online at WaltDisney.org.